RAF Hereford / RAF Credenhill

[listopad]

I was at that place from Jan 66 to Dec 66. The place had a a pervading smell of burning coal/coke, pretty nauseating most of the time. I was in Campbell Block, about 18 poor souls in a dormitory. Had the "pleasure of returning" for an SNCO course. The wooden huts were used as "trade training" classrooms and "hobby buildings" , yes you had to do something in your " free" time. Still hate the place, have had the misfortune to pass it a couple of times in the past year, thanks to a Sat Nav in the car, where is my old map ?? Oh how I really hate the place!!

[TenTonTone]

It was, unfortunately, the reality that, as a Cpl under training on the GST-2 course, you were still a Cpl until you passed out successfully at the end. Then, in my case, you were promoted to Acting Sgt until completion of your TMT-2 course. As a Cpl you were in no way entitled to use the Sgts Mess, & the nearest we got was a courtesy visit during GST-2 to see what we were about to get into, & be informed of the sort of behaviour the 'City Fathers' would expect from newly-minted SNCOs. The few who didn't get through GST-2 simply went back to their units as they were. When I went back as A/Sgt on my TMT-2, we were housed in one of the blocks near the mess, as the mess was deemed not to have enough accommodation for us. We ate in the mess, though.
Compare & contrast with 14 weeks bu**ering about at OCTU, living in an officers mess & being treated as such (albeit with a white band on your hat) - then crashing back into reality as a Cpl.

[kenmassey]

Did you know ken massey who was also at hereford for training in 1961?

[rafnewton91]

I am wondering if anybody can help me. I am wondering what Hereford was like and is still like after finding out that my dad was based here during his 10 years in the RAF can not give dates yet because I do not know them all I know he was based here for 10 weeks in 84 and he said it was a nice place and a nice base. He was in the RAF 83-93 know he was at RAF Newton until 93

[Robin]

As I stated in post #5, I was stationed at RAF Hereford 50 years ago, ariving there on 28 December 1960, as a 21 year old National Serviceman, rather ironic as National Service officially ended on 31 December 1960. We lived in wooden huts which were extremly cold at this time. The Station was mainly clerical/secretarial and catering training, with a lot of 'boy entrants' there, with the classrooms also contained in wooden buildings, life being spiced up by the presence of WRAF on the courses. Those were the days.

Robin.

[rafnewton91]

Sounds like you had a few great times when you was there Robin.

[Big Ears]

My first post so hello to everyone. Just thought I'd add some info regarding my recollections of RAF Hereford. I was there in 1988 and this is what used to go on there as I noticed a few posts on here asking what role the unit used to play:
R.A.F Supplier (Trade Group 18) - Initial 11 week trade training. Additionally it was here where all further trade/specialist training courses were undertaken (Fuels, Supply Controller, Explosives and promotion further training courses, there may be more but can't recall at the moment). Moved to R.A.F Halton circa 1994-95.
R.A.F Adminstration (Trade Group 17) - Initial trade training and subsequent further trade/specialist training courses. Moved to R.A.F Halton circa 1994-95 (?)
R.A.F Data Analyst trade and further trade/specialist training courses.
Government Youth Training Scheme (YTS) recruit training
School of General Service Training (GST 1 & 2)
I'm sure there were additional things going on there but my memory is fading from all those years ago!

[norwichpaul]

Thanks Big Ears and a warm welcome to AiX!

[canberra]

And despite meeting a few data analysts in my time in the RAF Im none the wiser as to what they actually did!

[PETERTHEEATER]

We has Data Analysts when I worked for a foreign airforce. All completed work orders went through their 'cell' where they digested(!) the information on discrepancies and corrective actions and compiled statistics to identify trends. This was prior to the introduction of computerised database systems.

An illustration of just how effective they were was that we started having a problem with aircraft fuel pumps failing due to seized bearings; this on an item which had always been very reliable. Within a week fourteen fuel pumps had seized and aircraft were grounded for spares. After a brain racking investigation involving direct contact with the manufacturer it was found that the aviation fuel supplier had changed the specification of the fuel which caused it to have a much higher 'hardness' value. To compensate, blender units were introduced which injected measured amounts of a lubricant into the fuel and the problem went away.

All through the saga, the Data Analysts failed to identify that 14 fuel pump failures in 7 days was an unusual trend requiring investigation and the 'cell' was disbanded!